Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-18

'erfect in All Other Respects, Eut WbOIy
Without the Organ of Vision.

HfA'itO ut tAiT vi EtNaA OA haslOu
Brazil und.) Cor. Globe Democrat.
( There was born 30 William ana anna
Armstrong, Il Coal City, near the Clay
county line of owen county, on Septem-
Der >, 1885, q daughter, perfect physically
in ell other respects, but eyeless. The
external parts Of the eye, the eveIids ard
cilia, are perfect, but the globe, or eye
Dall, is entirely wanting. The eyelids are
closed normally, never opening voluutar-
lily, but they may be separated with lit
tie ef,rt. The shedding Of tears. when
crying, indicates the presence of and nor
malaCtiOn ofthe Iachrymal glands. There
is no defect in any other organ OF sense,
either structural or functional. At birth
she weighed eight and one-half pounds,
being smaller than any Of her brothers or
sisters. She is now the sixth and youngest
child. For six mont S following her birth
she matured slowly, retaining the appear
anCe of 9 newborn babe. To add to the
phenomenal character of the case, no de-
formity, defect or other functional de-
rangement charaCterizes any other men,
Der Of the family, either Immediately or
through remote ancestry.
Nellie, for this is the child's name, is
developing well in strength, considering
the degree of physical inactivity her
blindness imposes upon Ter. When but
a few days old she betrayed an apprecia-
ton of light by turning her face toward
the window or open door. Her sense of
touch is 50 acute that she is able to dis
tiDguish IN this way the different mem
bers Of the household. She eagerly grasps
a hand that touches her face or person,
and Caressing it gives expression to affec-
ti0nate recognition. She can not talk,
but utters sounds belonging TO children
of younger age. She is wakeful st
nights, sleeping only in the daytime
She scarcely ever cries, but, on the con-
tray, is cheerful and playful. She will
sit for hours upon a little mat on the
floor, cOntentedly engaged with her play
things, Of which she has quite collection,
showing marked appreciation of triles,
among when is q common rubber hair
pin, which she has treasured for quite 3
year. She will occupy her cradle at times,
and what is much better than most chill
dren of her age, takes pleasure in rocking
herself. II, 10y chance or otherwise, the
cradle comes i'll contact with the wall or
other object, she Will IN her own way
make an emphatic appesI to have things
set right. Her appetite, digestion and
health are good, and exceptionally free
from disease. She can not walk, and is
but little inclined to do so; yet she is
able to stand alone and move about with
the aid OF chair. Her parents do not
encourage her in walking, humoring her
Inclination and recognizing danger from
contact with surroundings and from &C.
cidents generally. No defect or ailmeht
manifests itself in her development.
A great many visitors from the imme-
date vicinity have called to see little
Nellie, attracted by the phenomenon Of
total lack of the organs Of vision; but
the neighborhOod is retired, and but little
publicity has been given the matter. The
pareHts kindly answer ell questions and
manifest no disposition to withhold the
facts. Mr.. Armstrong is q millwright,
and has lived in Vigo county most of his
life.